I share your pain :-( I used to use Provoda systemic which worked well but that has now been withdrawn

This year I intend trying the systemic neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid (e.g. Bug Clear Ultra Vine Weevil Killer) as a liquid drench applied to the compost.

Details on RHS site
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?PID=234

It does not work. I have had the grubs swimming in undiluted Ultra Clear without any effect. Sorry.
I am trying a very expensive fungus called Me 52 (or something like that) which is supposed to kill the grubs. Certainly a Primula growing friend has had success with it.
You could try drenching your soil in dilute Neem oil. That does kill the grubs.

Oh dear, looks like another "substitute" that is nowhere near as good as the original.

Neem oil... that sounds interesting...

Does the neem oil have any adverse side-effects on anything else nearby ..e.g. plants, bees etc. ?
Thanks.

Neem oil is a natural insecticide which kills on contact. It is not systemic so it does not get into the pollen of the plants so bees are safe. That is as long as you do not spray the flowers with it. I only use it as a drench.
Had another thunk. If you are growing single stem plants like trees then you can cover the surface of the compost with something. The professionals use a coir mat, but a piece of plastic would do or the mats used to stop Cabbage root flies. The weevil lays its eggs on the soil near the stem and they then burrow down when they hatch. So if the weevil cannot smell the soil, it does not lay its eggs.
Cover the plastic/mat with at least a 2 inch deep layer of fine grit as well.
That is the theory anyway.

I tried that Provodo stuff on a blueberry(forgoing any potential crop which was decimated by weevils😈 in early Spring until I realized that it would be no good for my fruit plants long term as it makes the soil highly toxic. Plus it is bad for the pollinators. It killed the critters, but the blueberry died anyway.

I now plant scented plants like Calamintha Nepetoides var. nepeta(great with chicken sandwiches by the way!) alongside and in the same fruit plant pot to deter their egg laying, mixed with garlic or ordinary chives and feverfew. Anything scented or aromatic makes them move on. Sage is another apparently, as is Lavender, Catmint, Sandalwood, Wormwood etc, but a bit too big to plant inside a pot next to your plants. I settle for chives & calamintha. The dreaded weevil maggots also ate the roots of my strawberry Hapil! Is there no justice? Devilish creatures!

I don't have vine weevil but I hear essential oils will do the job. They repel bugs and are non-toxic. Peppermint oil works best, but eucalyptus, lavender and orange oil also work. Read this article to get the low down:

https://www.thehippyhomemaker.com/using-essential-oils-home-garden-kill-pests-diy-bugs-b-gone-home-garden-spray/

Thanks for useful input ... very interesting and much appreciated ..
to : Grandad Gardener, Owdboggy, Legion and Bathgate.

I wish we could put helpful questions on our homepage favourites but, sadly, there is no facility to do this. The list of GoYpedia categories which are mine to edit, unfortunately doesn't really include a suitable one for this question, but I'm going to add it, as you can see above, so at least I can find it.

I’m always so touched by the kindness of members on this site and the thoughtful responses I’ve had and thank you everyone for your answers!

Early days for the Bug Clear to show signs of working/not working, so I’ll keep an anxious eye on the plant for a week or so.
Owdboggy, I do take your point about the physical barrier/mat and I’ll be down the garden centre on Monday to see what they’ve got.
Bathgate, I did check the hippy homemaker site and they suggested orange, patchouli and sandalwood oil might work, also the neem oil, though I’ve not seen that anywhere. Orange oil might just deter squirrels from nomming all the sunflower feeders ...
Also Legion, great idea to use companion planting, the cherry is in a big pot with a bit of room for catmint or chives.
Thank you all again!
Teatime Tess x

Good luck, Teatime Tess ... you've certainly made some sensible plans !

This is where I got my Neem oil
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pure-Organic-Neem-100ml-Bottle/dp/B002VA7PXW/ref=sr_1_12?crid=2BN09K3DZZ0GE&keywords=neem+oil+for+plants&qid=1584193012&sprefix=Neem+Oil%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-12

Great, will check on Amazon this evening. Thank you again!
T

When some of my plants (notably Fuchsias) have had their roots eaten away by vine weevils, I have been able to take some of the branches and root them, to produce new plants. It doesn't always work but it's worth a try, you have nothing to lose.
Sometimes I have even been able to re-root the whole plant by putting it deep into a pot of new compost.

Thanks Owdboggy ... I already have Neem oil, used for another purpose, but good to know of other sources.

Good idea Hywel ... I've sometimes been able to revive plants attacked by vine weevil grubs .. especially heucheras ... by replanting the best bits .. important to inspect and clean any root/branch before replanting into new compost, to make sure free of vine weevils and grubs.

I wash the stems, especially the bases, in a Neem oil solution before using as cuttings, just in case.
Teatime. If you cannot find anything to use as a soil covering at the G.C. then I have been known to use a compost bag cut up to fit round the stem and on to the pot. Worth putting a few holes in it (away from the stem) to allow watering to take place.

Owdboggy, you are a veritable fount of knowledge - and I’ve just rescued a bag from the bin!
Teatime

Owdboggy .. Lots of useful info and ideas. Thanks.

Been fighting Vine weevils for many years now. I wish I knew the answer to them. It is an on going battle.
Another tip I was given is to use a non-peat compost. It seems that the things like peat.

I don't have vine weevil, but I have plenty of other things to worry about; that dratted cucumber beetle for one. I'd like to make my own pickles some day, but they keep destroying my vines.

https://www.rhododendron.org/v55n4p195.htm
This website suggests using tangle foot, since the adults hide in the soil during the day and climb up the trunk at night to feed. It also claims coffee grounds in a layer at the trunk base deters them.